You don't have to be a Johnny Cash fan to love the white-hot, string-popping, toe-tapping musical extravaganza that Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre serves up in "Ring of Fire."

A "jukebox review" along the lines of "Mamma Mia" and "Jersey Boys," "Ring of Fire" celebrates the legendary "Man in Black" in an exuberant and touching musical about of love and faith, struggle and success, and rowdiness and redemption.

Six multi-talented singer/actor/musicians bring to life Cash's most famous songs, including "I Walk the Line," "A Boy Named Sue," "Daddy Sang Bass," "Sunday Morning Coming Down," "Folsom Prison Blues," and of course, "Ring of Fire." Sharing the stage with the actors is a full band, with guitars, keyboards, a bass, a violin, a mandolin and drums.

"This is a high-energy concert with Johnny Cash's life story woven into it," says musical director Jim Ryan. "It's a musical tribute that celebrates the man through the fantastic stories he told with his lyrics. And it doesn't hurt that we'll have up to seven guitars strumming away at any given point in the show."

Originally produced on Broadway in 2006, "Ring of Fire" was created by Richard Maltby Jr., and William Meade.

A regional premier, the CST production is directed and choreographed by Christian Duhamel, who will also play "Sir Robin" in CST's upcoming "Monty Python's Spamalot." Ryan recently conducted "RENT" at Lake City Playhouse, and will serve as musical director for "Spamalot" as well.

"Ring of Fire" runs July 5-15 in North Idaho College's Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center. Performances are held Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.cdasummertheatre.com, or by calling the box office at (208) 769-7780. Tickets are $39.95 for adults, $35.95 for seniors and $31.95 each for groups of 10 or more.

CST will finish its 2012 lineup with "Monty Python's Spamalot," the irreverent comedy based on the hit movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," playing July 26 to Aug. 5; and "Ragtime," the sweeping, musical epic set in turn-of-the century America, playing Aug. 16-26.

'Ring of Fire' cast and crew

Max Demers, Dane Stokinger, John Patrick Lowrie, Darcy Wright, Laura Sable and Vickielee Wohlbach; On-Stage Band: Conductor, Jim Ryan; Keyboard 1, Jim Ryan; Keyboard 2, David Brewster; Guitar 1, Mellad Abeid; Guitar 2, Kyle Smith; Guitar 3, Wendell Smith, Violin/Mandolin, Shelley Rotz; Bass, Scott Steed; Drums, Bryan Swenland; Director/Choreographer, Christian Duhamel; Musical Director, Jim Ryan, Set Design, Michael McGiveney; Costume Design, Jessica Ray.